Lyoto Machida, the former UFC light heavyweight champion who found himself suspended roughly two years ago due to declaring usage of a banned substance, will be returning shortly at UFC Sao Paulo. Brazil’s Combate first announced the news. It will be Machida’s first fight back after an 18 month suspension stemming from the USADA violation. He has not fought since a loss to Yoel Romero at at UFC Fight Night 70. A planned bout with Dan Henderson at UFC on Fox 19 was scrapped as a result of his suspension. Machida has contended that he did not know the substance (which he declared to USADA) was banned.
Machida (22–7) is just 1-3 in his last four fights in the UFC. After losing the UFC light heavyweight championship to Shogun Rua at UFC 113, and failing to win it back against Jon Jones at UFC 140, Machida would eventually drop down to 185lbs. He made his debut in the division in October of 2013, finishing Mark Munoz and winning a decision against Gegard Mousasi to earn a title shot against Chris Weidman. He’d suffer his first loss in the weight class against then-champ Weidman at UFC 175. Since then, his only win came against C.B. Dollaway.
Derek Brunson, meanwhile, comes into the bout against Machida off a loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 208 in Brooklyn this past February.
UFC Sao Paulo, also known at UFC Fight Night 119, takes place October 28. Glover Teixeira vs. Misha Cirkunov has also been announced for the card.
